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Review: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

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By Philippa Leathley
New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025. Fiction. 343 pages.

Life hasn't been the same for Metty (short for Meticulous) since she was fated a year ago. Like all other kids, she got a tattoo on her 10th birthday that will tell her destiny, but unlike most kids, Metty's black skull held by a purple glove seems to have destined her to murder someone with magic. She's content in her boring life, hid away from others who would judge her--or whom she could possibly murder--until her father mysteriously goes missing. She has to travel to New London, a flying city run by magic to figure out who took her father and to confront her fate.

Metty's world of magical ink is immersive and engaging. Paired with a well-paced plot and a character-driven story, this is not a book that is easy to put down once you've started. I loved how the magic and fantasy set up the world, but the plot came to fruition because of issues and questions that are applicable to our world: What happens when one group holds all power? Do we determine our fate or does fate determine who we are? And what does it mean to be alive? These intense issues are cradled in a witty, comedic tone that lightens the heaviness. Overall, this book is a great read for those who want to jump into a fantasy world and ask questions.

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